Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that long-serving defender Eric Dier has joined Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season.
The 29-year-old departs the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a nine-and-a-half-year spell in Spurs colours, and Bayern have announced that his transfer also includes the option for another year.
Dier - whose contract at Tottenham expires in the summer window - reunites with former Spurs teammate Harry Kane in Bavaria and leaves the Lilywhites immediately after the signing of Radu Dragusin from Genoa was confirmed.
"This move is a dream come true for me, because as a child you want to play for a club like Bayern one day. Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has an incredible history," Dier told the official Bayern website.
"I want to help the team with my versatility in defence. I'm really looking forward to my new teammates and the fans at the Allianz Arena, which in my eyes is one of the best stadiums in the world."
#FCBayern have completed the signing of Eric Dier! ✍️
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 11, 2024
🔗 https://t.co/ljuCb1Wsso#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/tNq2xq7tdk
Sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed that the England international - who will wear the number 15 jersey - had been a long-term target of the German champions, adding: "We're pleased we've been able to sign Eric Dier.
"He's long been in our thinking for this transfer window. Eric will be a valuable part of our defence. His sporting abilities and international experience will help the team both on the pitch and in the changing room."
Speculation over Dier's long-term future heated up at the start of the 2023-24 season, as the 29-year-old lost his place in the Tottenham backline under Ange Postecoglou, who quickly settled on Cristian Romero and new arrival Micky van de Ven as his first-choice pairing.
A move away did not materialise in the summer, though, as Dier was keen to fight for his place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he played just four times for the club in the first half of the campaign.
Dier's only start in that run came in a 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and even during periods when Van de Ven and Romero were both absent, full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal were preferred in defence.
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The 29-year-old's final appearance for Tottenham proved to be a substitute cameo against Bournemouth on New Year's Eve, and he quickly agreed personal terms with Bayern once he entered the final six months of his Spurs deal.
Tottenham wanted to wrap up the signing of Dragusin before allowing Dier to depart for the Allianz Arena, but once the Romanian was known to be on his way to North London, negotiations quickly accelerated over Dier's transfer.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon man was pictured arriving in Munich on Thursday morning, where he hailed Bayern as an "amazing club", and he departs Tottenham with a record of 13 goals and 12 assists in 365 matches.
Dier - who started out as a midfielder before becoming a regular centre-back for Tottenham - will be eligible to make his debut for Thomas Tuchel's side on Friday, as the Bundesliga champions resume their title defence against Hoffenheim.
The Englishman becomes the Bavarians' first signing of the month and follows Hugo Lloris out of the Tottenham exit door, while Ashley Phillips, Djed Spence and Matthew Craig have all departed on loan.
Ben Knapton
